Jarvis' attorney, Hiram Sasser, said the San Diego native, who is Catholic, was "told" to remove the necklace because it might offend people and make incoming students feel unwelcome. That was a clear violation of laws governing religious freedoms.

"It would be the same whether it was a Christian cross or a hijab or a yarmulke," said Sasser, director of litigation for the Liberty Institute in Plano, Texas.

The incident has garnered widespread attention, with media outlets from Fox News to the Washington Times reporting on it. Kashack said by Wednesday morning she had received 94 messages from "angry people across the country who feel the university is discriminating against one student because of her religion."

Jarvis' attorney, Hiram Sasser, said the San Diego native, who is Catholic, was "told" to remove the necklace because it might offend people and make incoming students feel unwelcome. That was a clear violation of laws governing religious freedoms.

"It would be the same whether it was a Christian cross or a hijab or a yarmulke," said Sasser, director of litigation for the Liberty Institute in Plano, Texas.

The incident has garnered widespread attention, with media outlets from Fox News to the Washington Times reporting on it. Kashack said by Wednesday morning she had received 94 messages from "angry people across the country who feel the university is discriminating against one student because of her religion."

She said: "That is not in the least bit the case," and noted it would be against SSU and California State University policies expressly prohibiting such actions.

Armi?na said there are "no constraints whatsoever, and there should not be and there will not be, about wearing what you want to wear — a cross, the Star of David, a covering on your head."

Jarvis and her family were on a boating vacation Wednesday and out of reach, said Sasser. But she will attend a Monday meeting he is having with university officials, he said.

"My assumption is that we'll probably get this thing wrapped up and be done with it at that meeting," he said.

Jarvis is not seeking any damages, he said. The goal is to establish that Jarvis can wear her necklace at any time, including while at work, and that she receive a direct apology.

University officials have tried to contact Jarvis to apologize, but she hadn't replied to their overtures yet, Kashack said.